Spain Rocked My World

-I took this from a museum window =]

So, I finally got back from Spain! And apparently I'm a good number of shades darker than what I am normally. I also lost 5 pounds somehow...probably from all the walking we did. I'll probably gain it back soon, but oh well. It's fantastic!

I had such a great time...I met really really great people (cute guys too ;]), and despite the drama and the romance and the weirdness of it all, it's a trip that I'm never ever going to forget. And it sounds crazy, but it definetly changed my outlook on life.

I know it was just a vacation- but I realized that life is too short to be hung up over SAT scores and college acceptances. Those are all really important, of course- but when I came back to the trip and looked at what my life revolved around- I realized, wow, all I've been caring about is college, and thats it. When theres such a pretty world around us, with awesome people, and so many things to experience- I just felt like I had been living in a little fishbowl, and I finally got to peek over the rim and saw that life is worth enjoying, because I'll only be young once, and I'll never know when it's my time to go. I also realized that it's come to that point where I'm ready to spread my wings and leave home, and establish my own identity- I feel ready. I just need my parents to see that I'm already practically grown up, and that they need to let me take care of myself, and make my own decisions. I can feel it deep in my bones...I'm definetly ready to take on the world and fend for myself. Deep? Yeah.

So I've been feeling a lot more relaxed- I've also wearing this brown leather ying yang bracelet that a guy gave to me (hebought it at a Spanish flea market) to remind me of what I learned- and made this song (which this great guy introduced to me on the trip) my new life theme song:



Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go) by Dierks Bentley

Pair of boots and a sack of clothes
Free and easy down the road I go
Hangin' memories on the high line poles
Free and easy down the road I go
Free and easy down the road I go

Ragweed's rockin' on the radio
Free and easy down the road I go
So I keep rollin' like an old banjo
Free and easy down the road I go

Got the sun shinin' on me like a big spotlight
So I know everything is gonna be alright

Ain't no tellin' where the wind might blow
Free and easy down the road I go
Livin' life like a Sunday stroll
Free and easy down the road I go
Free and easy down the road I go

If you only get to go around one time
I'm gonna sit back and try to enjoy the ride

I could make a million or wind up broke
Free and easy down the road I go
Can't take it with you when you go so
Free and easy down the road I go
Someday I know it's gonna take me home so
Free and easy down the road I go
Free and easy down the road I go

My life. GO LISTEN!

And yes I do choose theme songs. (My other one is 100 Years by Five for Fighting, in case you were wondering!)

I'm itching for a road trip next summer.



Sorry for a zero-fashion post. But I thought my little epiphany deserved it's own little submission.

Hope this is food for thought,
-New York Chique

Outfits, Spain packing, News, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters

I'm leaving for Spain tomorrow! I'm all done packing, all I have to do is paint my toe nails (I'm in love with this coral color I have- it goes well with my skin tone, I think!), paint my finger nails (nude color, since I don't know how often I'll have time to paint them and I hate hate hate chipped finger nails!). I'm bringing my sketch pad, at the suggestoin of my drawing and painting teacher, and my digital camera. The rest is essentials and clothes clothes clothes! Besides shorts/tops I packed 8 dresses, because I figured since I'd be there for 3 weeks, there was no harm in bringing them. Plus, I couldn't choose which ones to bring! I love them all =] haha. I've become a dress-addict. But apparently theres a heat wave passing through Spain, so I think they'll be good to wear.


The down side- I won't have my cell phone since I odn't have an international plan, and I'm not bringing my ipod because 1) if it's stolen/lost my parents would kill me and I'd probably cry (it's the first/only ipod I've ever had), and 2) I don't know if I'll have the time/means to charge it (since I think you have to get a converter to charge things in Europe? oh well.)


Geez so much stuff has been going on! Some of it pleases me, some of it doesn't. I hope that while I'm in Spain I don't lose track of whats been going on here!


Assasination, George Tiller: What is wrong with us?! and those people in Kansas. Sometimes I am so disgusted.

Ssometimes I hear things on the news that just form a knot in my stomach- one of those things being the killing of George Tiller a little more than a week ago.

Background: The situation took place in Wichita, Kansas- a doctor, George Tiller, had a clinic that performed late term abortions. This caused anti-abortion groups such as Operation Rescue (an extremist group) to basically harrass and stake out at the clinic for years- which has been bombe, blockaded, and vandalized before. Turns out he had already been shot by someone from Operation Rescue in both arms many years ago, so he was well aware that there were many dangers to continuing his practice- but he did anyway. Then, on May 31st this year he got shot while serving as an usher in church...yeah, classy, I know. The killer, Scott Roeder, was caught.

Before people go up in arms, here are some truths: (haha, well, to the internet's knowledge)

Late term abortions=totally legal: law prohibits aborting fetuses that could live outside the womb - unless two doctors certify the pregnancy would cause the mom"substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.", which Dr. Tiller cited that reason for aborting hundreds of viable fetuses over the years at his clinic. He was well-known for providing abortions for women who discovered late in pregnancy that their fetuses had severe or fatal birth defects. He also aborted healthy late-term fetuses. Some of his patients, he said, were drug addicted and some were as young as 9 years old. Dr. Tiller, called access to abortion "a matter of survival for women," refused to give up his practice." (from the Wall Street Journal)

Obama says: President Barack Obama said he was "shocked and outraged" by the killing, saying that profound differences over abortion "cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."

And you know what? He's completely right. I know readers are bound to be divided on the subject, but you know whats really scary about this situation? That people decided they could take the law into their own hands, which isn't right. What Dr. Tiller was doing was legal, and he should've been left alone for this reason. But no, people thought they knew better than the law. People cannot take the law into their own hands every time they disagree! Then what would this country go to? Democracy made the law how it is, they should be fighting in court, not in a church. Ugh!

Speaking of Obama: I'm soo happy that he passed legislation to try to curb climate change. I'm just really happy he cares about the environement. =D He's already won me over! Yay earth!


Forever 21: I know that Forever 21 is infamous for all those intellectual property lawsuits and a lot of people call it tacky, but I'm a fan, and I've always shopped there. Although there's a lot of things I wouldn't wear, there are a lot of nice, cute things there! Of course, you have to try it on first to decide that since so many things look different on the racks than they do on the body. And although people say that their clothes "fall apart", all of the previoulsy bought clothing from there hasn't fallen apart yet- maybe they're just wearing it too roughly? or washing it with bad detergent? or maybe just picking out the flimsy/bad clothes they have, because I am utterly content with my clothes from there. Cheap and cute- if you stay away from some of the outrageous patterns. Call me a fool, but Forever 21 is my best friend.

Anyway, I'm mentioning it because I'm in love! I bought several summer dresses and a super cheap pair of jeans, and they're so pretty! Haha I just thought I'd mention how happy I am, and how happy I am to add it to my collection of summer dresses already from Forever 21.

Urban Outfitters: Urban is (was) my jewelry best friend. I barely buy anymore though, because I haven't been there in a while- I used to stop by all the time when I volunteered nearby. Anyway, I'd like to say how dissapointed I was when I went there this weekend! I went to their "yard sale", and I could not find anything worth the money. ='[. I'm thinking it might've been different if I got there earlier, all those chic girls probably beat me to the chase.

But as I was walking out, I saw one of their cute leather jackets! And I was like awww I always wanted a leather jacket but I never got one this year. Anyway, I look at the tag- and it's not even on sale/discounted! Haha I was totally expecting at least a little bit of a discount since it's a leftover from spring, I mean, who buys leather jackets in the middle of the summer? And it reminded me of how ridiculous Urban is at pricing sometimes, and I left the store. Oh welllll.

OUTFITS:
Okay, so here are more outfits from polyvore. I'm sorry they're not super-new, but I haven'tposted them on here, so I thought what the heck =]

#1 Pretty in Purple




#2, I am the Walrus



#3, Wasted Youth


#4, What a Lovely Morning



#5, Later in the Evening



#6, Simplicity

#7, Nice Weather




#8, Romantic Spring


#9, If I Could Wear What I Wished


#10, If I Could Wear What I Wished II


#11, Let's Visit Art Galleries

Maybe, Maybe, if I'm brave enough, I'll take pictures of my outfits in Spain. But I've always felt really self conscious of my fashion- and you know, I feel like it's so much more personal when people critique actual outfits than when people critique polyvore outfits- also, I don't really have that much of a budget for the chicest clothes, so that plays a factor. But we'll see =]

Anyway, I'll be gone for three weeks! I'll miss home and my boyfriend (very much! ah ='[) , but hopefuly it'll be fun.
Adios! Suerte!
-New York Chique

My Outfits and Ramblings

Hey it's almost summer!
Well, I'm so glad that people are still reading my blog! =]
I have some news that kind of relates to the last post:

1. Driving: I'm not going to get my license until around August, because for some reason if the permit is at leats 6 months old + the drivers ed you can get a full license, not a license with a bunch of restrictions.

2. SATs: I got my SAT scores back! I got a 2040 out of 2400, which I'm glad because I broke 2000 which was my goal- I think I might take it again, just because my math score wasn't too good (thank god the writing + reading held me up) and I want to make my scores look more balanced. In the "old" SAT scale (out of 1600), my score would be 1320. My goal was to at least get 1400 for Math+Reading, so that's more incentive to take it again.

I'll have the summer to study for the fall, so hopefully I'll get better at this stupid test to mak colleges happy. Oh boy, don't even want to think about that yet, I have some major visiting to do!

3. Rejection, finding work: I got rejected for the scholarship to go to Argentina =[ I was really upset, and went in a frenzied search to go find something to do over the summer- because the worst thing is to have absolutely nothing to do while everyone is away on trips or interning and fancy shmancy places. So I picked up application as I walked down a street a mile away from my home- I got an application from Mandees (teen clothing store, which I actally like sometimes), Fine fare 9supermarket), and McDonalds. Hahaha can you imagine!

Sadly, McDonalds is actually probably the hardest to get into, because with this economy, you probably have a whole range of people applying for jobs there. But the manager seemed really eager/nice, so I might have a shot! Plus, my mom says that sometimes they do like younger people, because they're all smiley and nice and pretty compared to the jaded, bitter about workers- though I can't blame them, McDonalds looks hectic lots of the time.

4. Working: I'm going to get my working papers soon. It's actually a semi-hassle for me because my school ends for me on Monday (I only have one final to take since I took AP classes which don't have finals), and I had to have a physical again which I took today with a new doctor. I think it's so silly that a 17 year old has to get working papers to work at a supermarket, but whatever. I will do what I have to.

5. I'M GOING TO SPAIN! The same people who rejected me from Argentina invited me to go to Spain instead. It wasn't one of my top choices, but who cares, I'm so excited! They sent me an email to say that they had "meant" to include that although I was rejected from Argentina they offered Spain, and that they had made a mistake by not letting me know at the same time. Whatever. I'm so excited right now it's unbelievable. One moment I'm scrambling to get a job here which I probably won't get, and now I get to travel to Spain for the first time for three weeks! Yayyy. I'll be able to work on my spanish! I've been to Europe before, but I've only seen France and Italy, so this is a really nice suprise. Also, unlike Argentina, at this time of the year Spain is hot hot hot. And I'm hoping to meet guys too ;)

I've also mentioned in my "sexuality" post that one of my favorite paintings was a Dali. And on the trip we get to visit the museum! So I'm realllyyy excited, and I think the museum + entire trip will help me with AP Drawing and Painting and my personal photoraphy next year, as inspiratoin.

For anyone who has gone to Spain over the summer some time, tell me about it! Maybe some tips, things to look out for, etc. Anything is appreciated.

I'm also going to *try* to work at McDonalds/Mandees/supermarket, telling them that there will be a 3 week period in which I'll be absent. The other months (june + august, basically) I'll be able to work everyday of the week, all hours available. I don't know (kinda doubting) they'd be okay with that, but I think it's better to try anyway, just in case. Because I seriously do need some extra cash.

POLYVORE:
Okay, so every once in a while I like to put up polyvore creations, which I usually do when I'm bored. I actually make myself very jealous at all the outfits I could have if I had the money to buy all of the nice designer clothing they have on there! One day, maybe :) Oldest is first, the latest is last. Enjoy! And please tell me what you think:

#1. Valentine




#2


#3, Walking Through the City

#4, Rebellette

#5, Jumpsuit

#6, A Slightly Darker Alice



#7, Soft Daisy


#8, Sweet Elegance


#9, Darker


#10, Subtle Elegance (inspired by the outfit right before)


#11, For the Sake of Starbucks- really for the sake of a contest! Which by the way, I never win. oh well, I thought I'd show it anyway: p.s., the bag is Miu Miu! ($1,350, net-a-porte.com) A lot of people asked me that a while ago and I never answered. So sorry for the late response!


#12, Sailor-esque


#13, A girly Alice




#14, Material Girl. The title explains itself.


#15, Concert Night


#16, Happiness is a Warm Gun. Not my best outfit, but here it is nevertheless.


#17, Keeping it Vintage. (LOVE the bag)



#18, Ruffles and Simplicity


#19, Casual Date in Central Park


#20, The Life of an Artist


I have more outfits on polyvore, but I figured after 20 your head is probably spinning from having so many on one post. So here they are!

If you want to check out my outfits, or see certain items on them, then you can always looks at my polyvore account at polyvore.com, "NewYorkChique" (yes, like the blog). Here's the link: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?id=217941

So, hope you've enjoyed the post, and make sure to comment on the outfits made, I really like to hear the opinions of other fashionistas (be it good or bad, just stay constructive).

Muchisimas gracias a todas! Continuan leyendo!
Besos,
-NewYorkChique

p.s.- I got a little music playlist thingy on the side. I was looking at someone's blog and they had one, and it inspired me to get one too! And I have one of the she had on hers, the one called "Plasticities". I don't remember the blog, but whoever it was, thank you so much! You've totally introduced me to a very cool song. ;]

Life Update: Junior Year

...is terrible, but almost over.
I already took my SATS, which I had been practicing for, so I hope I did well! The only thing that got me bummed out was that people discussed the test afterwards and started talking about the answers to certain math problems, and I think I already got one of them wrong. Ah I hate it when people talk about tests afterwards! haha I get all stressed out. =]

I already took my two AP tests- one of them went great, the other went so-so (US history, toughie for me), but I could've predicted that. But I'm glad they're over and my mother was really supportive of it, so I'm just happy they're done, and I'm not too worried. After all, it's just for college credit and to show some effort, right? right. So all I have left is one final exam in June, a research paper, an english presentatation, and an in-class essay, take the ACT- and then I'm on the road to summerrrrr.

I still don't know what i'm doing, becuase I haven't gotten responses from the two things I applied for yet- I'm supposed to get them in about a week, or two? I'm either going to Argentina (which will be cold, because it's winter over there!) for community service, or being a counselor for 5th graders over a summer-school-like program. The counselor position is apprantly reallly hard to get into, because it offers pretty good pay, so I'm placing my hopes on the Argentina trip. If I don't get into either, I'd probably sign up for a summer class (boring, I know). So I guess we'll see!

(Figure above) Argentina. My mother joked that if I got to go, at least I'll get to see the glaciers of Argentina before they melted. Even though it was a joke, it kinda depressed me. A lot of natural things are dying soon, because of climate change.


Driving:
Oh! And I have finally passed and finished my driver's ed course. I've already had my permit for a while, so I've been practicing with my mother. I haven't gotten into an accident yet, and my mother's started actually breathing when I take the wheel (in the beginning her face would turn red and she'd clutch the side door), so she says I've made a lot of progress and turned into a decent driver. Hurrah! But the downside is, once I get my license, the insurance will go up about $2,000, and thats not something she's willing to pay. I would pitch in If I weren't broke, so basically she's not going to let me drive until senior year =[. I would be okay with this, but I have a little dilemna that I haven't exactly told her about yet. She doesn't know that in the city, you're not allowed to drive with a permit unless your car has a double brake! (which is stupid, because only instructor's cars have that. And how am I supposed to practice on the weekends?) So, basically everytime I've driven with my mom, I've prayed that I don't get pulled over on even bump lightly into another car, becuase I could get into muchas problemas- unless the police officer is nice and understanding (ha..ha...in the city? right. maybe upstate.) That's why I'm so anxious to get my senior license- so that I won't get in trouble for driving only with a permit, even if it is with my mom. And I need to continue practicing until I get my license, so if I have to wait until next year- well, that'll be a lot of times I'll be praying not to get pulled over! So you see the dilemna?

(One of my life ambitions is to own a smart car. So cute, and energy efficient. I wish that an American car company would develope something similar, to support american car industry, and maybe make it popular in america, instead of those ridiculous hummurs and suvs.)


PROBLEM, in case you didn't want to read that whole paragraph:
License= needed soon, so I don't have to drive illegally anymore. (without a dual brake car)
No license until next year (because of insurance cost)= have to practice in order to pass, lots of driving illegally, highering my chances of getting caught.

(my biggest fear, besides sharks, at the moment)

I'm thinking I should tell my mom that all those times we've been driving have been potential trouble. She's been led to believe that if I have a permit and an adult with a license, I'm ok. But, I'm afraid of telling her, because then she'll 1) get mad then 2) maybe stop letting me practice and then 3) yell at me for rushing to take driver's ed this year, and telling me I should've waiting until next year to take it. ughhh.

I don't understand how anybody practices in new york to get their license- I mean, besides with an instructor. If anybody sees a solution to this, or any words of wisdom, please enlighten me!


On the homefront:
My parents are doing fine. Today's mother's day, I'm writing this while everyone's getting up and eating breakfast/ getting ready to go out. My little brother (not so little- in 9th gade) is with this band, and he's the lead guitarist. They started getting serious about it, and so they actually went to a studio to record! And, okay, I'm was a pessimist, but they actually sound really good. If they ever get their music up via myspace or whatnot, I'll post the link up.

Next Year:
These are the classes I signed up for:
AP English (the hardest AP to get into in our school, probably won't get in)
AP Spanish Lit
AP Drawing and Painting (so excited!)
Religion
Calculus.

I'm actually really really excited to do the AP drawing and painting, which my teacher already gave me clearance to do next year (unlike the english AP, which you have to "audition" for, and the spanish lit, which I have no idea if they'll have space for me or not, but with my grades in spanish I think I'll be okay.)


Recently, I've really gotten into the arts- my mother was a painter on her free time, so she's very proud =] And she likes my works, so she's as excited, if not more, than I am. And it's kind of a risk, considering it's not a very "scholarly" AP class, but I think it'll make a statement on my transcript- you know, I'm not just some stuck up kid who does classes because they look good- I have passions, and I do it to learn what I'm interested in, not just to get a certain GPA or get into a certain college. That's how I felt like before that anyway, but now that I'm taking an art as a major class, and making a big committment to it (instead of just talking it as a minor), I really feel like- wow, I can actually do things that I love. And I know it's going to be just as stressful and demanding as other classes (the teacher is really intense), but I have this surreal feeling of hey- I might actually enjoy senoir year! haha.

Birthdays:
My birthday is veryyy veryyy soon (17, wooot), and I won't say when exactly so that I won't be somehow identified, hha. It's weird, but I've adopted this new view of birthdays- when I was little, I used to be obsessed with them. I was alll about the gifts. And I know that there are still people that celebrate them, and enjoy getting gifts (thats probably the majority), but my recent birthdays, I've gotten really nothing much, and I haven't had a party or anything- just usually a dinner out on the town with my family. And you know what? I'm perfectly content! Birthdays just don't seem like a big deal anymore- I'm happy I'm a year older, but then it's kinda like...so what? haha. Sometimes I feel like I forget it's about to be my birthday. Not like some girls in my grade that constantly count down to their birthday via aim/facebook statuses two weeks before, or start talking about their birthdays to everyone beforehand to make sure people remember. I don't even care if people remember or not (besides my parents, because I like going out for dinner, especially on a school night when we usually don't =]). Hmm, I don't really know why I've grown this way towards birthdays, but I guess it's just kinda the commercialism of it, maybe, that puts me off a bit. Even though it's fun to be invited to birthday parties, I'm happy with not having one of my own. Am I a birthday grinch? Maybe =]. But I like to think that I'm maybe maturing a bit.

Okay, enough of my life, I'm sure it's quite the bore. But thanks for staying tuned! I always promise I'll be more dedicated to the blog, but then I don't. And then when I'm like "hey, I should write something", I start thinking about how insignificant my blog is, really, in the big scheme of things- both in the world, and in the virtual world, and hey, not that many people even read it. But I guess once in a while, I give in to the urge that maybe something I say, or something I talk about, will interest someone surfing the web, or maybe strike a string. You never know.


Thankfully yours, (and remember your mothers today!)
New York Chique


p.s. I am now CPR certified! I passed the skills test and the swim test with flying colors. Maybe it'll come in handy some time.